Panasonic GH2 manual focus assist - rack focus - dSLR workflow

[CharlesHenrySanson]

I really like your videos. Why not put a piece of tape along the bottom of screen to mark focus points?

[Tallaias]

ive heard some bad things about being able to get smooth zooms on this camera in video mode. what are your thoughts on this?

[BananaManaTV]

@Tallaias You definitely CANNOT do smooth zooms - this is because of the lens. Video cameras have motorized zooms - SLR cameras don't. However, Panasonic has announced new lenses they call "X" lenses. They should be out end of the year. These have motorized zooms!! Should be pretty cool - and should solve this problem while still allowing us to get the depth of field we love from dSLRs.

[TheSara90]

@BananaManaTV will those lenses be applaied to this GH2 model, or to the newer version?

[BananaManaTV]

@TheSara90 They can be used on any GH2 or even Gh1 I believe...

[whole27]

@BananaManaTV I want the best of the best for VIDEO, don't care for pics at all. But these DSLR's are so terrible with AF, no AF at all for video mode...why is that? Why are they just now improving on that? Camcorders are so great at all, auto and perfect.

I don't like the short DOF shots at all, i think they look cheap. I want everything in focus!

But i want the best HD quality video too on top of the AF for a big project i got coming up so what would you recommend?

[BananaManaTV]

@whole27 Then I think you should be looking at camcorders. dSLRs are very good at lots of things and what people like them for is the short DOF and generally bigger sensor. If you're doing more docu stuff and require greater focus and auto focus - then definitely get a camcorder. Which one will largely depend on your budget. The FS100 is supposed to be excellent!

[whole27]

@BananaManaTV apparently there are more than 1 FS-100's so which brand did you mena? Sony, Canon?

[BananaManaTV]

@whole27 It's by Sony - FS100. It's supposed to be pretty good for the price.

[samir0810]

@BananaManaTV I wondered if this worked if I used a ring adapter and a Nikkor lens. Please answer!

[BananaManaTV]

@samir0810 No - touch screen rack focus will only work with panasonic lenses. Kit lens 14-140, 14-42 and the pancake.

[samir0810]

@BananaManaTV Thanks. I guess I'm buying a 14-42 kit and then using my old 55-200 Nikkor for scenes that require zooming.

[hamletcat2009]

@samir0810 Good idea - we actually really like the 14-42 lens - it's cheap and works great for video AND it's incredibly light. Don't forget to use the ex-tele mode. I program one of the function buttons to turn it on and off easily and then your 14-42 becomes a 28-84 lens (equivalent of 55-160)

[samir0810]

@hamletcat2009 Thanks for the hint :)

[BananaManaTV]

@samir0810 Absolutely - we use an adapter with a Nikon 50mm lens. This little film we made was mostly shot on the Nikon lens with an adapter: Matrix Parody Part 2 - BananaMana Films.

[samir0810]

@BananaManaTV Thank you very much :) What does the guy above mean? He talked about turning a button off and making the lens 55-160. Can I really zoom that much with a 14-42?!

[dereknobuyuki]

I was wondering how to make that gauge more useful; Adding little digital markers sound like a great idea!!

Perhaps little slivers of sticky post-it notes could be applied to the screen but of course that wouldn't help me if i'm using the viewfinder.

[BananaManaTV]

@dereknobuyuki Actually after using the GH2 alot we find that the viewfinder is the best way to focus. We use the viewfinder and manual focusing almost all the time now. Compared to other cameras (even some video cameras out there) the viewfinder has enough definition to do really fine focusing. The more I practice the faster and more accurate I get. I almost never use auto focus now. So although I thought I'd be using the gauge for rack focusing - in practice - I don't - I just do it manually.

[BananaManaTV]

@dereknobuyuki Actually after using the gh2 a lot I'm so used to manual focus using just sight that I don't think I'll ever really use the gauge. I never even use auto focus anymore - you just get used to fast manual focusing - just takes a little practice.

[dereknobuyuki]

@BananaManaTV right, more practice!

[TheMusicianGirl100]

Hi! Great video! I do have a question though. I'm a little confused....I put it on MF (manual focus) but it acted no different than in AFC. Basically I am still having issues with the focus assist gauge and the manual focus one can execute on the touchscreen. Can you please help me with this? Thank you :)

[BananaManaTV]

@TheMusicianGirl100 Do you mean you can't Manual Focus? Or that the manual focus gauge doesn't show up?

[TheMusicianGirl100]

@BananaManaTV Thank you for the quick response! :) I dont know, the thing is I put the camera on MF and I would touch the screen to focus on the subject I wanted....but it just wouldn't work like it does on the tutorials I watch. And, yes, the manual focus gauge doesn't show up either. I think I am just lost....

[BananaManaTV]

@TheMusicianGirl100 Actually to use the touch screen you need to put it on afc or afs NOT MF. Then you should be able to touch the screen to get it to rack focus. The focus assist gauge should come up when you set it to MF and then use the MF ring on the kit lens. (NOTE: you have to be using one of the panasonic lenses).

[TheMusicianGirl100]

Hi! Great video! I do have a question though. I'm a little confused....I put it on MF (manual focus) but it acted no different than in AFC. Basically I am still having issues with the focus assist gauge and the manual focus one can execute on the touchscreen. Can you please help me with this? Thank you :)

[TheMusicianGirl100]

Hi! Great video! I do have a question though. I'm a little confused....I put it on MF (manual focus) but it acted no different than in AFC. Basically I am still having issues with the focus assist gauge and the manual focus one can execute on the touchscreen. Can you please help me with this? Thank you :)

[ledwatch]

You want to make PENCIL markers onto your GH2 ?

[IzChua77]

What is the price of the camera in SIngapore?



[ucheucheuche]

@BananaManaTV

1. Panasonic should put some mm/cm/inches/feet/metres on that scale.

2. Add a distance(s) lock feature. Camera can then autofocus to a preset distance, so you don't have to.

That way you can rapid-rack-focus between two or three subjects.

:) Now that would be advantageous.

[BananaManaTV]

@ucheucheuche That would be awesome. Even a few markers would be great. Apparently this guage is more accurate than marking anything on the lens focus wheel - because these automatic lenses aren't geared like the old manual lenses - so it's not accurate to mark focus settings on the focus wheel (thus even a manual rack focus system wouldn't work properly). If using manual follow focus system - then better to use a manual lens.

[R2FilmProductions]

@BananaManaTV what about an auto focus lens in manual mode? I mean don't just about every lens for this camera that Panasonic makes have AF on it? And if it don't work on none panny lenses what good is it?

[R2FilmProductions]

Does that work with a none panny lens?

[BananaManaTV]

@R2FilmProductions No, unfortunately only works with Panny lenses.

[BananaManaTV]

@R2FilmProductions - in response to your video about the correlation between the focus gauge and the focus wheel - we have repeated what you did in your video - and yes you're right it doesn't correspond! Damn automatic lenses.

[R2FilmProductions]

@BananaManaTV Bummer it's not what i did though LOL I don't have the camera yet. Could the tape be touching the screen & messing it up? What if you don't put tape on the lens and no marks on it. But put a piece of tape all the way down on the frame of the LCD screen. And go back to the same mark you make there, does it at least keep those marks? It not it's a useless feature.

[BananaManaTV]

@R2FilmProductions - in response to your video about the correlation between the focus gauge and the focus wheel - we have repeated what you did in your video - and yes you're right it doesn't correspond! Damn automatic lenses.

[brianpso]

LOL Green Samurai Ranger XD

U R D BEST!

[SALisRad]

Great stuff! :D

[hamletcat2009]

@SALisRad Yeah - it's a pretty cool feature!